I got up and gave myself a shake determined to bring myself back to reality, I knew why I was doing this, so there was no reason to feel sorry for myself. I was alive and I still had the most important things, my family and friends were all safe and I had Draven, that's all that mattered. I looked down at my bare arms and ran my fingers over the scars of my past, knowing that for the first time, seeing them like this didn't bother me anymore. I had waited for so long to move on and get over hating myself for what I am, but now I knew my purpose and if I had never had this sight, then things with Draven would have gone quite differently. He was my reason.
I went over to Draven's huge oak desk and looked for something I would look at for the last time. I found my case file and took out two pictures before walking over to the double glass doors that lead onto the balcony. I placed my warm hand in the middle and the glass responded as though it was alive, disappearing back into the wall. The cool air hit me and my body responded by covering my skin in Goosebumps. I only had a t-shirt on and for once no gloves, so the feel of the night air on my scars was a feeling I was not used to but for some reason, it made me smile.
I walked over to the edge and noticed my blood was still on the floor in little droplets from where Draven had set me down before realising my feet were in such bad shape. I hope the rain would come soon and wash it away, as I didn't want Draven to have any reminder of what had happened tonight.
The wind had picked up now and I looked at the first picture. It was Morgan's mug shot. I had never seen a face so evil in all my life, not even after years of seeing humans one minute and then them as Demons the next. I had never met someone that emanated so much pure hatred. His twisted love for his sister over took his senses and when he found her loving someone else, his love just fuelled his rage, killing them both in the most brutal of ways. I don't know what it was that he saw when he looked at me... Was it his sister incarnate or his guilt? Whatever it was, it was over now and I doubt that his fate would have led him to the same place his sister was. She was now at peace. I ripped up the face into as many pieces I could and threw into the night, letting the wind take his face away from my nightmares.
I looked down at the last picture I held in my cold hand. This one was me, broken and afraid. It was when I was in the hospital, so soon after they found me outside, where Morgan had dumped me, slowly bleeding to death. This was the one thing Morgan had done with the last shred of humanity left in him. I had cut my own wrists hoping he would believe the Demon that was torturing him had made me do it. It was my last hope of escape and my last chance to save my family, who he had been talking about getting rid of. I still thank God daily that it had worked and perfect smooth skin on my arms had been the only thing I had lost.
The picture was still painful to look at. Bringing so many terrible memories back but none as bad as when I saw my family’s faces, when they first saw me. My mother had crying so hard she couldn't breathe, my dad screamed out in an anger he couldn't control and my sister couldn't even look at me, which had been the hardest response to take. Of course I didn't blame her, I would have probably been the same but from there on, I became I different person.
I was bitter at the world and hid away from everyone's stares. I was convinced that everyone around me was thinking, “Oh dear, there goes the girl who tried to kill herself just to get away.” But they were all wrong! I didn't want to die, I wanted to live but I knew one way or another, this was my only chance at saving my family. After all, if Morgan hadn't done the right thing by taking me to hospital then he wouldn't have needed to go after my family, if I wasn't around any longer. But when everyone around you, even those closest to you, all believe you’re a suicide case, then no matter what you do, you will always be classed and viewed in that same, sad light.
I looked at my old self one last time before bringing the picture to my lips as I kissed that bitter, bruised me goodbye before ripping it the same way I had done with Morgan’s and I let the wind take away my past forever. I fell to my knees and cried with happiness until my legs went numb in my last cold night of being afraid.
I went back inside once the tears of my past had all dried up. I was close to freezing at this point and the only thing keeping me from realising sooner was my goal. I was hoping to find Draven back because not only was I bubbling over with a million questions but I needed his touch again so badly. I felt like a junky needing another fix. It made me wonder if Draven had this effect on everyone or was it just me because I was so madly in love with him, that it physically hurt when we were apart.
I decided the only way I was going to warm up without Draven was to take a warm shower. I was so tired but I was fighting against it, as I wanted to wait for him to come back. I hadn't been in the bathroom since my nightmare when I first saw Sammael but I knew I didn't have anything left to fear when it came to that Demon, as I had witnessed Draven send him back to the underworld.
I got undressed and let the warm shower caress my skin, making my muscles ease and relax. I loved water and loved it even more when it washed away my troubles along with cleansing my skin. By the time I was finished my hair was squeaky clean and my fingertips looked like raisins but I smelled great thanks to some luxurious bathroom products. Once I had dried myself off, I got dressed back into my clothes and went to sit on the couch hoping Draven wouldn't be long.
When I next awoke it was dark and I was still half asleep but I was aware that I was being carried towards the bed. Strong arms gripped me tightly to a hard chest and I sighed taking in the tremendous scent. This was one of the things that always took my breath away with Draven. He always made my bones turn to jelly at just the smell of his skin. I still had my eyes closed as he laid me on the bed gently but I felt the covers move back with one swift movement. His arms left my body leaving my skin feeling cold in their absence. He then pulled the covers back up over me.
I was waiting for him to get in next to me but he didn't. I could still feel him lingering over me before a hand came to my face. I felt fingers softly trace my cheek, running up to move the hair that had fallen over one side of my face. Then before his hands could leave me, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him to me. I lifted up my face to his before he could pull away. I didn't understand why he would want to pull away from me but before I could think about it in depth, my lips found his and everything stopped.
At first his lips wouldn't respond and I was doing all the work but as soon as this thought hit me his lips parted, letting me in. His mouth was warm and so soft but his kiss tasted different. However my mind was still filled with an intoxication that I couldn't break from and this is where I found my drug of choice.
His hand held my face and just before his kiss got even more intense he pulled back suddenly, causing me to open my eyes. I was about to protest and try to pull him back to me as my body was screaming to be touched but then the faint moonlight touched the side of his face, making his perfect features light up like the Angel he was. I gasped and bit down on my lip so hard I thought I would taste blood. Of course it was a Draven just not the one I was used to.
It wasn't Dominic....
It was Vincent!
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[email protected] Acknowledgements
Firstly I would like to say huge thanks to all the readers out there that picked up Afterlife and especially the ones that took the time to let me know they loved it. You’re all brilliant and make my day!
A massive thanks goes to my family and friends for your endless amount of support and for always having faith in me, you really are a force to be reckoned with! I would like to thank my mum for her commitment to seeing that Afterlife was read the way it always was meant to
with her meticulous editing. Also to my sister who not only read the book about fifteen times but also made sure Afterlife looked the way it was always meant to with her fantastic and sexy front cover. They really are my biggest fans and as my sister often says “It’s easy to Crave the Drave!”
I would also like to thank bands like 30 Seconds To Mars, Shinedown, Foo fighters, Kings of Leon, Coldplay and so many others that helped me write the book of my dreams and inspired every word. If I was ever to pick an Afterlife theme song it would be the “Sound of Madness” by Shinedown which I listened to for hours on end during the writing of the “Battle” in the last couple of chapters.
A huge shout out to all my work family who have been there for me in ways only true friends know how. Being a waitress is one of the hardest jobs I have done but working with such a special and fun group of people has made every shift full of naughty laughter and girly giggles. I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Not only with your endless support for my book but also throughout my pregnancy where each and every one of you helped out, from carrying my trays to running my drinks. You all ROCK!
And last but not least my undying love to my husband who has had to put up with three years of Demons, Angels, Gothic nightclubs, vampires and endless household chores left to his manly hands, all the while listening to me tap, tap away on my very used laptop. Oh and did I mention an endless supply of tea! You really are my strength in life and like my own father will make one hell of a cool dad!
I love you always my hairy bear!
Stephanie Hudson, Afterlife (Afterlife Saga)
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